In a tense Olympic football quarterfinal, France eliminated Argentina with a 1-0 victory in Bordeaux on Friday. The match, which saw over ten minutes of stoppage time, ended in a massive brawl.
The game was already mired in controversy due to a recent racism scandal. Argentinian players were caught on video singing an offensive song about French players of African heritage.
This led to Argentina's team being heavily jeered by the crowd when they entered Bordeaux Stadium.
The atmosphere was charged as the match began. Argentina's national anthem and their players' touches of the ball were met with boos and whistles from the home fans.
Despite the hostility, security measures remained unchanged, with over 400 police officers, 100 military personnel, and drone surveillance ensuring safety.
France scored the only goal early in the match, thanks to Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta. This win secured France a spot in the semi-finals against Egypt, while the other semi-final will see Spain face Morocco on August 5.
Interestingly, the tension was confined to the stadium. Outside, French and Argentinian fans mingled peacefully, some donning Argentina flags or Lionel Messi jerseys.
The match served as a rematch of the dramatic 2022 World Cup final, although stars like Messi and Kylian Mbappé were absent due to the tournament's Under-23 rule.
This victory keeps France on track for their second Olympic football gold, their first since 1984.
Argentina, coached by former player Javier Mascherano, had previously won back-to-back titles in 2004 and 2008.
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